Jacksonville State University
Alabama
Gamecocks Welcome Alabama in Midweek Bout
3/30/2026 5:48:00 PM | Baseball
Both teams nationally ranked in the NCBWA poll
JACKSONVILLE — The Jax State Gamecocks return home to Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium on Tuesday night to host the No. 16 Alabama Crimson Tide in a midweek non-conference match-up. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Jax State has claimed a spot in two national polls, appearing at No. 24 in the NBCWA poll, while also rising to No. 23 in the Perfect Game poll. The Gamecocks are also receiving votes in another major poll, the USA Today Coaches Poll (31 points, 31st-most). Jax State is also ranking highly in several mid-major polls, coming in at No. 5 in 6-4-3 Charts Diamond Sports Rankings Mid-Major poll and No. 5 in 11.7's Mid-Major Power Rankings. PEARatings has Jax State at No. 3 in the mid-major NET ratings.
The Gamecocks enter Tuesday's contest riding the wave of a historic start to the 2026 season. Jax State went on the road to Louisiana Tech for a three game Conference USA set, coming away with another conference sweep. Friday's game saw Eli Pillsbury set a new career-high in strikeouts with 12, shutting out the Bulldogs to take the opener 4-0. The Gamecocks fell behind early in both Saturday and Sunday's games, but would score five and seven unanswered runs, respectively, to sweep the Bulldogs on their home turf. Jax State became the first team in Conference USA history to start 9-0 in league play with the sweep.
No. 16 Alabama enters the match-up after having swept No. 5 Auburn in Tuscaloosa this past weekend and has returned to the D1Baseball Top 25 this week, entering the poll at No.16. The Crimson Tide enters 22-7 overall and 6-3 in the SEC after the sweep, having won their last seven straight. The two clubs met only 27 days ago in Tuscaloosa with the Tide narrowly escaping the Gamecocks with a 6-5 win.
Jax State has the fifth-most double plays in Division I. The team is tied with California, Grand Canyon, La Salle, and Utah at 27. The team with the next-highest amount in Conference USA is LA Tech with 24.
The Gamecocks will turn to southpaw Josh Sibley for his first start of his career. The redshirt senior from Sharpsburg, Georgia, has posted an ERA of 3.18 so far this season and does not have a pitching record. Alabama will turn to right-hander JT Blackwood, who is 0-1 with an ERA of 6.23.
This midweek contest will be streamed on ESPN+ with coverage by Eli Gold and Jim Case. Mike Parris will have the call on the Gamecock Sports Network. A very limited amount of tickets are still available at JaxStateSports.com/Tickets.
